UK | Zeal Hotels has opened its first branded carbon hotel in partnership with IHG, designed to use renewable and solar energy.
IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened voco Zeal Exeter Science Park – IHG’s first branded net zero carbon hotel, in partnership with Zeal Hotels and Valor Hospitality. It has been designed to operate entirely on renewable and solar energy.
As with all voco branded hotels, the 142-room voco Zeal Exeter Science Park has been designed to help guests truly unwind and feel at ease with the use of neutral tones and contemporary features throughout the guest rooms and public spaces. Guests staying at the hotel will have access to a mini gym, gardens, a versatile meeting space and 12 EV charging points. The hotel’s onsite restaurant and bar, ISCA, emphasises the use of locally-sourced ingredients, collaborating with regional farms and producers to offer fresh, responsible dining options.
The voco Zeal Exeter Science Park stands out with its sustainable design, which earned a BREAAM Outstanding rating, a renowned sustainable buildings certification. It is the first building in the UK that has utilised the Solarlab vertical photovoltaic panels as a rainscreen cladding system. It also follows the Passivhaus standard for ultra-low energy buildings and uses adiabatic cooling and heat reversible heat pumps to reduce energy usage.
In line with voco’s commitment to innovation and sustainability and a belief that small steps collectively make a big difference, voco Zeal Exeter Science Park was constructed using materials chosen for their sustainable characteristics and assembled innovatively to achieve best-in-class results. For example, they have used Ecocrete during construction, a low carbon concrete with up to 85 percent less CO2 than CEM1 (100 percent cement).
“With a growing number of travellers seeking responsible travel options, we are delighted to open voco Zeal Exeter Science Park. The hotel will bring a new sustainable hotel offer to our UK portfolio and build on our commitment to provide exceptional experiences for our guests,” said Joanna Kurowska VP, Managing Director UK and Ireland at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
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